Do you dream of flying? Do you want to become a pilot? Do you want to go up into the sky alone or with your friends? If you want to fly an airplane to the point of spasm, now is the time to get your license to fly as a private or sports pilot. The necessary training can vary from country to country and the level of the pilots can be organized differently. This is a general guide to obtaining a private pilot license.
Steps
Step 1. Determine what kind of training you want to receive and what kind of certification you want to obtain
Do you want to be authorized to drive twin-engine or single-engine? Fixed or rotary wing? Do you want to be able to land on the water? Unless you are interested in helicopters or want to study for a long time, we recommend starting with a single-engine, fixed-wing, and ground landing aircraft.
Step 2. Check your financial situation to see if you are able to meet the expenses, which are large enough
In the United States, a realistic estimate is between $ 4,000 and $ 9,000 depending on the type of school, plane, and area where you live. Take a tour of the various schools and evaluate the prices. In Europe the cost is more than 50%. This value refers to training for a single engine fixed wing aircraft. Helicopter schools cost about twice as much.
You can find money by saving, asking your parents for it, as a scholarship, as a loan, by working in exchange for flying lessons, or a combination of these
Step 3. Determine when and where to take lessons
You have to pay attention to the weather forecast, the quality of teaching, the cost of the lessons and what goals you have set for yourself as a pilot.
Step 4. Start training when everything is well organized
Advice
- The requirements for a private pilot license are not the same all over the world. Usually you have to complete a session of lessons on the ground (flight theory and regulations), accumulate hours of flying with an instructor and finally solo flying. At the end you will have to take a written and a practical exam. In the United States, a student pilot for a fixed-wing aircraft must reach a minimum of 40 hours of flight to be admitted to the exam. Many students reach the goal of 70-80 hours with just one lesson per week, so memory is essential.
- A good flight school is very important because the training could be more expensive or too "relaxed". Like all sports coaches, the flight instructor must also encourage you to achieve increasingly important goals. Make sure the school you choose has enough instructors to meet YOUR organizational needs - you are the client after all.
- The best thing would be to take 1-2 hour lessons 2-3 times a week, at this rate you could get the certification in 3-4 months with little money. Everyone has a different learning speed, so don't rush; however, if you learn quickly and memorize the lessons, the total cost will be lower and attending more than 4 times a week is excessive. You don't want to overload yourself. So the memory and the ability to internalize the lessons are the most important thing, a school attendance of 1 time per week makes you risk forgetting 50% of the information before the next lesson.
- Many aero-clubs accept students and provide instructors and equipment at reasonable prices.
Warnings
- It is essential to have a third category medical certificate (as a minino), otherwise you will not be allowed to fly solo. You can do your research and find a doctor's office licensed to issue this type of certificate. Also, before making any type of investment, make sure you know what you will be able to do. If you have any form of disability or are taking medications for a certain condition, you should see a doctor before enrolling in any flying school. Some physical conditions may exclude you from the ranks of aspiring pilots and this is information that should be known in advance.
- If you can't build a good relationship with an instructor, talk to him or ask for another teacher - remember that you pay to be trained.
- If you don't understand something in class, ASK. Do not wait for the situation… er… to precipitate.
- If you have any doubts about your medical / physical condition, do some research to become a "Sport Pilot", this license does not limit the number of passengers you can carry but has less stringent medical requirements.
